Democratic congressional candidate for New York Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez believes that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s committee confirmation vote should not proceed until an allegation of sexual misconduct are investigated.
“I certainly think that one of the aspects of due process is that we have to hear these things out and he should certainly not be confirmed before this is explored,” Ocasio-Cortez said Sunday during an interview with CNN.
Kavanaugh is accused by an anonymous woman of trying to force himself on her at a party when the pair were in high school in the 1980s. The woman detailed the incident to the New Yorker on Friday, a day after Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, referred the matter to federal authorities. Kavanaugh has “categorically and unequivocally” denied the claim.
[New: Woman accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct comes forward]
The Senate judiciary panel had been scheduled to vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination last week, but the vote was pushed back to Thursday.
Ocasio-Cortez became a leading voice for the liberal movement after defeating incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in their primary for New York’s 14th Congressional District in June. But that movement suffered a blow with the loss of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon last week against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Ocasio-Cortez said Sunday she had been more focused on local candidates and building influence in the state legislature, but would rally behind Cuomo to ensure he is returned to power in November.
Cuomo is vying against Republican Marcus Molinaro for a third term in office, while Ocasio-Cortez is competing against GOP candidate Anthony Pappas.
